College students in Iran get 99 lashes for attending graduation party at which both sexes were present

College students in Iran get 99 lashes for attending graduation party at which both sexes were present

by WorldTribune Staff, May 27, 2016 A group of Iranian college students who were “dancing and jubilating” at a graduation party that included men and women were arrested and given 99 lashes. Iran’s judiciary said the punishments, believed to be part of a wider crackdown by Teheran’s hard-liners, were meted out in Qazvin, about 90 […]

Iranian women cut hair, dress as men to dodge ‘morality police’

Iranian women cut hair, dress as men to dodge ‘morality police’

by WorldTribune Staff, May 22, 2016 Defiant women in Iran are cutting their hair and dressing as men to avoid wearing the mandatory hijab and the long arm of the morality police. “Although the Government arrests women who post their photos without headscarves, women are not afraid and they are following their own lifestyle,” said […]

Iran hardliner says moderates ‘colluded’ with West

Iran hardliner says moderates ‘colluded’ with West

Special to WorldTribune.com A top Iranian cleric accused moderates of colluding with “foreigners” in the Feb. 27 elections in order to block hard-line appointments to the Assembly of Experts. Sadeq Larijani said reformists and moderates had worked with “American and English media outlets” during the election. “Is this type of coordination with foreigners in order […]

Iran elections: Khamenei wants parliament that will ‘stand up to world powers’

Iran elections: Khamenei wants parliament that will ‘stand up to world powers’

Special to WorldTribune.com In a shot at the Obama administration, Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on his countrymen to elect a parliament that will “stand up to world powers.” Iranians will vote in two elections of Feb. 26, one for a new parliament and the other for the Assembly of Experts, a body […]

Iran’s leader asks Pope to pray for him after ‘cordial talks’

Iran’s leader asks Pope to pray for him after ‘cordial talks’

Special to WorldTribune.com Iranian President Hassan Rouhani asked Pope Francis to “pray for me” as the two met at the Vatican on Jan. 26. The talks “delved into the conclusion and application of the nuclear accord, and the important role that Iran is called upon to play, together with other countries of the region,” the […]

Italy covers naked statues in ‘sign of respect’ for visiting Iran leader

Italy covers naked statues in ‘sign of respect’ for visiting Iran leader

Special to WorldTribune.com Italy on Jan. 25 covered nude statues in deference to the visiting leader of one of the world’s top state sponsors of terrorism. Nude statues at Rome’s Capitoline Museum were covered by large white panels in an effort to avoid any offense to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who met with Italian Prime […]

Khamenei celebrates capture of U.S. sailors as ‘God’s deed’, welcomes closer ties with China

Khamenei celebrates capture of U.S. sailors as ‘God’s deed’, welcomes closer ties with China

Special to WorldTribune.com Iran seeks closer ties to China as it “never trusted the West,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Jan. 23. During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Teheran on Jan. 23, Iran’s supreme leader said the United States was “not honest” in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East. “Iranians never trusted […]

Israel warns ‘implementation day’ is ‘difficult’ for many states situated near Iran

Israel warns ‘implementation day’ is ‘difficult’ for many states situated near Iran

Special to WorldTribune.com While Iran and the Obama administration are caught up in the euphoria of nuclear deal “implementation day,” Teheran’s neighbors fear the Middle East is entering “a new and dangerous era.” “Iran is continuing to strive for nuclear weapons and the optimism of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) report must not blind […]

Major Islamic figures break silence on Muslims’ image problem: Would you believe ISIL jihdists are Israeli soldiers?

Major Islamic figures break silence on Muslims’ image problem: Would you believe ISIL jihdists are Israeli soldiers?

Special to WorldTribune.com Islam has a PR problem and two days after Christmas, two major leaders on opposite side of the yawning Sunni-Shia schism addressed it openly. Iranian President Hassan Rohani in a Dec. 27 address at an Islamic conference in Teheran said “it is our greatest duty today to correct the image of Islam […]

Trump statement gets a rise out of Iran’s Rouhani

Trump statement gets a rise out of Iran’s Rouhani

Special to WorldTribune.com The same Iranian president who has presided over “Death to America” chants in the streets of Teheran has gone public against Donald Trump’s call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Dec. 9, without mentioning Trump’s name, said “under the pretext of fighting terrorism, some […]